wethau (1813)

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WETHAU (OCTOBER 10, 1813)
A delaying action

INTRODUCTIONThe Augereau's IX Corps is advancing along the
Saale towards Leipzig, closely watched by the Liechtenstein's Austrian 1st Light Division
and the Streifcorps of Thielmann and Mendorff. The main road crossed the Wethau stream, a
small tributary of the Saale, by a bridge located in the Wethau village, now in Austrian
hands after the French light cavalry of the advance-guard was expelled by a surprise attack
carried out by the Austrian Jager Battalion #7 (See the SDS Scenario 'The Wethau
bridge'). Moritz Liechtenstein, the Austrian commander
hopes to delay Augereau, if not totally block his march on Leipzig, in the Wethau defile.
However, Augereau used his 51th Division to attack frontally the bridge while simultaneously used an
unguarded ford located 2 km upstream, to take in reverse the Austrian defenders that retired on their
supports. A cavalry battle ensued between the
s Allieand the Milhaud's V(bis) Cavalry Corps, containing
some 'Heavy' Divisions formed by veteran Dragoons arrived from Spain, and after a bitter fight the
Allies
were forced to retire and Augereau continued his march towards Leipzig.
This Lasalle Scenario is based on that combat, but includes some historical licenses to make a more
interesting tabletop battle: the full IX Corps and the 5(bis)Cavalry Corps is facing the Austrian 1st
Light Division, the Streifcorps and some units of the Lederer's First Division of the Austrian II Corps.
The OOBs are based on Nafziger.
Bibliography-
Tableau de la Campagne d'automne de 1813 en Allemagne. Dimitrij
Petrovič Buturlin.pp 102-103 (1817)-
Campagne de
1813. La cavalerie des armées allies. M.H. Weil, pp 205-210 (1886)
- Napoleon at Leipzig. The Battle of Nations 1813. George Nafziger, pp
81-85, Emperor's Press (1996)TABLE-TOP ADAPTATION

Notes The basic duration of the game is 24 Turns (3 hours). Bonus Turns are allowed rolling 2D6 (
p. 66 of the e-Lasalle book). The French are attacking and are the first side..

OPTIONAL RULESReinforcements
Some units are in the table map (see map). The rest may enter as
reinforcements. Use 2D6 for the Arrival Turn (p. 91 of e-Lasalle). The
units arrive in march or attack column as desired. Each commander
arrives with his first unit.Allied
Each brigade arrives separately. Arrival Turn: 2D6.
Arrival point. C1-D1-D2-D3 (20%/30%/30%/20%)French
Each division arrives separately. Arrival Turn: 2D6.
Arrival point. Infantry A2-A3-A4-A5 (10%/20%/30%/40%); Cavalry A1-A2-A3
(40%/40%/20%); Baggage A1-A5 (20%/80%)

Optional rule for baggage units (As for my suggestion in Lasalle
e-book p. 143)
(1) The wagon moves as if it were a foot artillery unit, always
limbered.
(2) The wagon neither fires nor can charge the enemy. It has only one
formation: limber. It does not block line of sight or fire. It may not
be fired upon.
(3) Friendly units may move through it, as they move through a limbered
artillery unit.
(4) Any enemy unit - regular or irregular - may charge the wagon, as
long as that unit is eligible to charge (it is in a formation that
permits it to charge, it is facing the right way, etc.)
(5) In its reaction phase, the wagon may attempt a Fall Back, as if it
were a foot artillery limber. It succeeds on a roll of 4+, but if
attacked by enemy cavalry, it must re-roll a success, even if within 1BW
of friendly infantry.
(6) If it fails to fall back, then the wagon is automatically captured
in the ensuing combat. Combat must be “resolved” against it, as if
against any other unit, but the resolution consists simply of removing
the wagon, advancing the enemy unit(s) that captured it 2BW, and
awarding the captured Objective to the enemy.
(7) Any enemy unit that contacted the wagon suffers 1DISR, unless that
would break it. (The men are dispersed, plundering the loot). The unit
must then take a discipline test. If it fails, it is marked in some way,
showing that it is disordered and still plundering.
(8) A unit that is still plundering is considered “Out of Command” for
the entirety of its side’s next turn.Optional rule for Cossacks (and other irregular cavalry)
(1) Irregular cavalry units may charge enemy units standing in 'march
column' formation.
(2) Irregular cavalry units must to pass a 'Discipline' test to initiate
the charge.
(3) If routed in 'decisive combat' the irregular cavalry unit is
immediately broken.

Assault of defilesLasalle does not allow march columns to fight, so the assaults
on defiles, such as bridges, fortified gates, field fortifications,
etc.. can not be played on the table in a convincent way. There
was some friendly discussions in the Lasalle Forum regarding this
topics . At last I have used the Scruf proposal:
1) A march column can assault a defile like a bridge, a fortified gate,
a fort, etc. It represents not only true march columns, but also all
those formations with a very reduced front.
2) It fights at 1/2
dice and with no previous shooting, adding a -2 for "bad terrain" as
they will be fighting in cramped quarters.
3) The enemy can use the "cover" or "higher elevation" modifiers when
applicable.
3) However the small front,
the enemy never halves their dice